I'm in the middle of trying to source a car for my dad atmo and its proving harder than i thought.
We called into a stealers on saturday to test drive a 535d.... i'll i can say is that it was awesome. It had 19" wheels instead of the bumpy 18" runflats and although the ride was firm and composed, it wasnt jarring and uncomfortable.
The boost was easily accessible and on-tap from a low RPM and didnt come in a big lump before 3K RPM!

It felt taught and relentless.... the speed felt so effortless and accessible.



I havent been so impressed with a diesel car that you can pick up for as little as

 

Why can't you tow with the 535?

 

My father has a remapped 335d i like it.

 

was it a chipped 535

 

Nice car and gorgeous alloys, but the 19's are RFT's too.

We have got 19" RFT's on our 335d and compared to my 135i the ride is shocking on crappy roads.

Traction will be an issue with the 535, so I would get an old Landy as a beater.

 

I had an E92 335d when they came out in late 06. VERY quick and, as you say, very taught and secure on the road. I bought a Z4M just after the 335d and TBH the Z4M was to all intents and purposes hardly any quicker unless TOTALLY thrashed. I've got big respect for that twin turbo 3.0L diesel. That said, what about a X3 3.0sd?? Same excellent engine but not as big and bulky (or waggish) as an X5 and, as such, a good bit quicker (6.6 to 60). X3 looks are a bit less than wonderful shall we say, but you sit in it, not outside it, and would certainly do all your father would be looking for from his next car. IF on the outside chance you go for an X3 3.0sd, try - if budget will stretch - and go for the late 07-onwards with (same power) 208 CO2 engine rather than the earlier top-band 232 CO2 engine.

RON

 

Don't the X3s have rather shoddy interior plastics compared to the 5 series/X5/audi etc.?

A friend's wife has an X5, checked out the X3 as well at the time and thought it felt like some cheap east asian company had tried to make their own "bmw" and failed miserably. The ride was awful, wasn't that high up, quality of materials very poor given the money, build quality wasn't on a par with other bmws, poorly equiped.

imo, it's the worst car bmw currently make. if anyone disagrees, fair enough but please tell me which other bmw is worse...

 

Fair enough points: the first X3s were a bit below par BMW-standards-wise as regards ride and some of the interior trim materials.

I should have also said that the late-07-onwards X3s are not only better CO2-wise but also much MUCH improved as regards both ride and interior plastics. FWIW, I've had 55-plate 3.0d X3 SE, a 56-plate 335d coupe SE (on 19s), a 07-plate Z4M Rdstr and a 08-plate 135i M Sport Conv over the last three years and ALL of them had similarly jarringly-hard rides - with the X3 being the least hard of the four as it goes. Small potholes felt absolutely fecking AWEFUL in the 335d and 135i (I REALLY HATE R/Fs - although I obviously am aware of their potential advantages safety-wise). As regards build quality in general - including interior plastics - the X3 (pre-face lift) was no certainly no worse SFAIAC than the US-built Z4M. With the much-improved ride and quality of the facelifted X3 3.0sd, it would - with it's not-silly-for-an-SUV-weight and stonking engine - still EASILY be the SUV of my choice FWIW at the present time.

RON

 

thats how i would describe it.

my sis had the auto 535.it just keeps on acelerating seemlessly.

she got rid of it for an edition 30.

 

No, its a 335d remapped.